kolmapäev, jaanuar 03, 2007

Calling All "Troppid" from Sweden, Estonia

This is it, dear friends. The end is nigh. Sweden is rearming, under the auspisces of an "emergency Nordic Battle Group" that will also include troops from Norway, Finland, and Estonia.

According to Sveriges Radio International, Sweden has already begun airing commercials, hoping to draw it's most violence-loving citizens out of the pubs and into uniform, presumably for peace keeping missions in such tropical getaways as Lebanon and Somalia.

"Sweden has started recruiting for an emergency Nordic Battle group with action and violence-filled television adds for troops to be sent to crisis areas around the globe," writes SR International.

"2,000 Swedes are to be enlisted in the Swedish-led group – which is also to include tropps from Norway, Finland and Estonia – and is to be ready this time next year."

Despite this risable spelling error, it looks like the Nordic Battle Group could see real action. "The aim is to receive a United Nations mandate for each operation in such places as Somalia and Lebanon – and that fighting back may be an option – not just peace-keeping operations," SR International notes.

13 kommentaari:

AndresS ütles ...

Wait! Why is Eesti included, they're not Nordic! ;)

Anonüümne ütles ...

That's right - Estonia is Baltic.
Where's the Baltic battle group?

Anonüümne ütles ...

Well, Baltbat was pretty much dumped once they got into NATO and this would be interesting, a partial re-creation of the empire by Stockholm...hmmm...where are the Janissaries down south?

Giustino ütles ...

Wait! Why is Eesti included, they're not Nordic! ;)

Tee hee.

this would be interesting, a partial re-creation of the empire by Stockholm...

Hence the photo of Gustavus Adolphus, Estonia's favorite historical foreign monarch, upon his trusty steed.

Anonüümne ütles ...

Estonia is included to teach Scandinavians some fighting. Your eastern friend knows better this time...:)

Anonüümne ütles ...

The last time Estonia won a war with Russia was 1920. The last time Finland held their own against Russia was the Winter War. When was the last time the Swedes managed either?

Giustino ütles ...

The last time Estonia won a war with Russia was 1920. The last time Finland held their own against Russia was the Winter War. When was the last time the Swedes managed either?

The Finns and Estonians are like sentinels guarding the path to Stockholm.

Anonüümne ütles ...

Maybe this will be the new beginning of a something grand? Our ancestors from Estonia and Finland were dragged from their little forest huts to die for the Swedish king and now we perhaps have a glorious opportunity to do it again. Heja Sverige! ;)

Frank ütles ...

Eestimaa ja Liivimaa also provided for the best part - simultaneously the lion´s share - of the officers stock ...

As a friend of mine - Finnish on the mother´s side - likes to put it: the Swedes have always fought to the last Fin ...

Which possibility ended in 1809, which might also explain why Sweden has enjoyed peace since then.

stockholm slender ütles ...

I suppose this makes sense. EU is building very slowly capabilities for rapid reaction and ultimately this news falls in that context. The best outcome hereabouts would be a sensible, modernly thinking Russia, but so far so not good... As that is not happening Finland and Sweden will continue their slow drift towards the Western defence structures.

Jens-Olaf ütles ...

When the Swedes occupied Osnabrück (Germany)after a short siege in 1633, one of the officers in charge was Kurkinen (?), a Fin. The Swedes stayed more than 10 years. Swedish troops inside the city were recruited from Fins, almoust 400, for a long time.

Anonüümne ütles ...

Well, if the Swedish Navy gives us one of those cool stealth destroyers then why not, eh? Better than the aging Sulev or Vambola, eh?

Anonüümne ütles ...

A little comment to this is that during the so called "Winter war" 1939-1940 between the Soviet Union and Finland, the Swedes recruited 8260 soliers that fought together with the Finns, Sweden also sent 12 fighter planes and 4 bomb planes.

/Erik